November 19, 2024
The Third Article of the Nicene Creed continues: “(We believe in the Holy Spirit), who has spoken through the prophets.”
We hear and say this declaration that the Holy Spirit of God spoke through the prophets long ago, and added to that, the Apostles as well. A question worth exploring, and we’ll do so later in this study is this: is God’s Spirit still speaking through men and women today, (thus calling others to serve him as prophets in the current age)? It’s a loaded question, I know, and although it’s a bit complicated, it’s worth exploring.
Now, you and I as Christians believe the Holy Spirit is one with Father and one with the Son; and we believe He was sent by God to move within the hearts of men and women to spiritually reshape the world. To quote one of my favorite movies, He is the “Voice from the outworld, to lead us to paradise.” The Spirit of God is the person of God who rested on, and in men (and women), to speak on behalf of the Lord. As the creed declares, He was (and is) the voice of the Prophets, the Apostles, and the one who inspired the Holy Scriptures.
Christians have an idea of what the prophets did, and still may do. That said, let’s look at this more closely, because Jesus and the Apostles warned us to be aware of false prophets. To know a fake when we see one, we have to understand the genuine article.
The best definition of a prophet is one who has received a specific and personal call from God, for God, and wherein God initiates the call on that man or woman speak on his behalf. We can glean this definition by looking at the Holy Scriptures themselves. Here’s a few to consider:
Of course, we cannot forget about the Apostles and their Jewish countrymen who saw Jesus as THE Lord’s Prophet. While preaching in his hometown of Nazareth (just before they ran him out of town), Jesus said this of himself:
Let’s also consider this great story: Jesus’ calling Nathanael to follow him, and how Phillip described Jesus beforehand. It’s a great, circular story of God’s ultimate Prophet calling both Philip and Nathanel to be an Apostles for the Lord.
READ John 1:43–51
Likewise, the Apostle Paul also spoke about Christ as the Father’s chief prophetic voice in his letter to the Ephesians. St. Paul implied Christ also gave his apostles a prophetic voice also. Let’s consider:
Further down in his letter, Paul said this (and it’s worth discussing):
The Apostle Paul inferred that God still raises up both apostles and prophets, as He also does with evangelists, pastors, and teachers. But are these prophetic voices, those with whom we’d give the title Prophet with a capital “P” (like Moses, Jeremiah, Amos or Jesus), or are these prophets in a much smaller sense? And likewise, are these apostles, that the Apostle Paul wrote of, apostles with a capital “A” – like the men Jesus personally called himself, or more of a small case “a” apostle – as in kingdom entrepreneurs, church planters, missionaries, and the like? For many, the subject is debatable.
Many Christendom would contend that God gives pastors (and teachers) a prophetic voice, not as “Prophets” per se (like Moses, Amos, Jesus, or the Apostles), but as teachers who proclaim God’s word unashamedly and soundly, while also calling the unrepentant to turn from their sins and seek the Lord.
Do you think God is still raising up prophets (and apostles) today, and if so, how can we know if they’re legitimately speaking for God (and not themselves)?
Here’s a bit of trivia you may (or may not know). Of the 27 books in the New Testament, did you know there is only ONE that doesn’t mention to be on the lookout for false prophets and/or false teachers? Can you guess what that one book might be? (Enter, the jeopardy theme song, LOL…) The answer is Philemon.
There’s good reason Christ Jesus and his Apostles warned us to be on the lookout for men and women who say things God didn’t commission or sanction. These men and women are labeled as false prophets and false teachers, wolves in sheep’s clothing, false brothers or false speakers, liars, and false Christs.
But how do we know who’s legit, and who’s not? How do we know if someone is authentically a real prophet ordained by God to speak on His behalf, or one posing as such?
Thankfully, the Apostles have given us great guidance. St. Peter wrote this bit of advice: 2 Peter 2:1–3.
Similarly, the Apostle John said this: 1 John 4:1
Here’s just a short list of people to consider that many deem “false prophets” and wolves in sheep’s clothing today. You may have heard of a few of these, but perhaps not all:
These a just a few of the biggest “prophet” players this days, and for everyone I listed, there are numerous more. But what about the pastors and teachers that introduce false and heretical doctrines. How should we respond to things like, for example, those who would have you recited the “sparkle creed.” (WATCH THIS VIDEO!)
We as Christians have a responsibility to test ANYONE who is claiming to speak on God’s behalf, to see if what they’re saying in the name of God conincides with the Word of God.
May we each do that in the days ahead.
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